Philippines frees 13 Vietnamese trafficking victims

Filipino police said September 27 they found 24 human trafficking victims, 14 Vietnamese and 10 Chinese women, following tipoffs about the victims being imprisoned inside three apartment buildings in Manila. Two Chinese suspects were also arrested during the rescue operations.

Thirteen Vietnamese were set free Wednesday, while the other one is being taken care of at a local women and children support center because she has contracted Covid-19, foreign ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said Thursday.

Vietnamese agencies in the Philippines have contacted the Covid-19 patient and taken necessary measures to protect her rights and interests, Hang said.

Filipino media reported that the trafficking victims were apparently promised stable jobs in the country and forced into prostitution instead.

Late last month, Filipino authorities announced they have suspended the operation of 175 gambling companies and deported around 40,000 Chinese workers following multiple reports of murder, kidnapping and other crimes committed by Chinese people in the Philippines.